Marvel’s original “Star Wars” adaptation provided spark to 1970s comics

Star Wars #1-6 (1977)

The first six issues of Marvel Comics’ ongoing “Star Wars” series adapted the first film. Written by Roy Thomas and drawn by Howard Chaykin, they’re not only a good adaptation of the film, they also make pretty solid comics.

The “Jabba the Hutt” scene that was cut from the original film (before being restored in the special editions) is here, though here Jabba is more of a llama-looking creature. Oddly, Luke Skywalker is called “Blue Five” rather than “Red Five” prior to attacking the Death Star.

Given that the comics were finished before the movie was released, the small variations aren’t too surprising. And while the art is a little bit uneven, it’s overall a pretty enjoyable adaptation. In the days before DVDs and VHS tapes, reading the comics was the only way to experience the story of “Star Wars” over and over once the film left theaters.

These comics are often given credit for saving Marvel Comics – and perhaps the entire comics industry – in the late 1970s, and while they may not read as exactly worthy of that, they are nostalgic fun.